what's the name of this psychological phenomenon?? is it even a phenomenon?

Question

when you tell someone something and they take it the wrong way and think you're insulting them, when you're not. they're insulting themselves and hearing their own insecurity come out of your mouth when you never said it.
for example, i was talking to my boyfriend about running track and i said that he wouldn't be capable of what we're doing bc it's really hard, and he was like "oh so you're calling me fat?!?!" and started a fight over it. he's really insecure about his weight btw.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

It's called taking offense and acting like an idiot. Sorry but saying that someone couldn't do track does not mean that you're calling them over-weight. Unless you mentioned it a certain way then I think he was just taking way to much offense towards your statement.

ABumpInTheRoad · Answer

What do you call the phenomenon when a person makes a passive aggressive statement meant to make the person feel better about themselves?

That's exactly what you did.  How do you know he wouldn't be capable of doing what you do?  Anyone can run, its not hard at all.  My track team won state, you can't do what we do, its too hard for you.  See what I mean?

James · Answer

You've just said it, he's insecure about his weight. Does he have the same reaction to a similar statement? If so he could be paranoid or sensitive. It could be a lack of trust or insecurity from lack of confidence, who knows.

Alice · Answer

Actually, what you were doing is being a naysayer and sort of puffing yourself up as being more fit than your boyfriend. You might be telling what you think is the truth, but you were being rude and at least a little insulting. No wonder his feelings were hurt and he got angry.

It would have been kinder to have been more supportive.

Anonymous · Answer

Paranoia, plain and simply.

Trending News

what's the name of this psychological phenomenon?? is it even a phenomenon?

5 Answers